Year in Review: Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Reid Hall
2024 marked the 60th anniversary of the gift of Reid Hall to Columbia University by Helen Rogers Reid.
Molded by many residents and students, and influenced by more than two centuries of exchange between the United States and France, Reid Hall was fashioned by the will and vision of a succession of pioneering individuals. It bears the name of Elisabeth Mills Reid, an American philanthropist who purchased the property in 1911. Her daughter-in-law Helen Rogers Reid, president of the International Herald Tribune and Barnard alumna and Trustee, gifted Reid Hall to Columbia University in 1964.
Today, Columbia’s initiatives at Reid Hall include: the longstanding undergraduate programs (est. 1972); the university’s only master’s program run entirely in Paris, the M.A. in History and Literature (est. 1993); a Global Center (est. 2010); and the Institute for Ideas and Imagination (est. 2018).
Events
Presentations by Brunhilde Biebuyck, director of Reid Hall, and Mary Louise Taylor, great-granddaughter of Helen Rogers Reid, highlighted the contributions of two women who shaped 4 rue Chevreuse. These explored the overlooked, and often surprising, contributions of the female artists, radicals, and visionaries who forged parallel power structures and helped define and direct its future.
On our podcast, we continued our discussion with Mary Louise Taylor about the lives and motivations of the Reid women.
Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Podcast special series
Discover the untold stories of remarkable women who shaped Reid Hall. Each podcast episode highlights the lives and accomplishments of artists, scientists, philanthropists, or scholars, from 1893 to 1939. Providing rich historical context, “Women of Reid Hall” ensures that these women's contributions are not forgotten.
“Women of Reid Hall” is a history special series of Atelier, a podcast produced by the Columbia Global Paris Center.
Our knowledge of Reid Hall's history is always deepening, enriched by the contributions of numerous collaborators. The website is regularly updated with new insights and information.
Learn more about Reid Hall history
Mural
At the occasion of Reid Hall’s 60th anniversary and a special podcast series highlighting the contributions of women to our history, we also created a mural on the ground floor of the building, giving them a physical presence in the contemporary space.
Each woman passed through the walls of Reid Hall between 1893 and 1940, through different periods—the Girls’ Art Club, World War I, or the University Women’s Club. They each have a short bio on the mural, accompanied by a photo (if one exists) and in some cases, photos of their artworks or publications. A QR leads to their dedicated page on the Reid Hall history website.
